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Emergency Management, Emergency Services, & Disaster Spox

Helmet mounted systems for augmented reality? Well…

Posted on April 10, 2017 by rusnivek

Assessing a few helmet mounted systems today for augmented reality in-field use.

Some of them totally cool…

U.S. Air Force Capt. Brad Matherne, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron pilot, views the flightline inside an F-35A Lightning II before a training mission, April 4, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 422nd TES will design the tactics for the F-35A. The squadron will also determine how to integrate the F-35A with other aircraft in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

…some of them not so much.

Information overload continues to be a problem for any user including the ongoing data deluge to our military fixed and rotor wing pilots who regularly use these variants of these systems.

And simplicity just isn’t going to cut it.

Additionally, hardware barriers are easy to overcome but the software still lags due to lack of high speed connection. Cellular speeds are lackluster, but the apps required to do overlay of information hogs data up real quick. Additionally, the power required to run these complex apps on hardware is huge.

Maybe I’ll just go retro.

It’s Monday so keep your head down!

@rusnivek

Whoa, that went well… #AlohaFriday

Posted on March 24, 2017 by rusnivek

Whoa….whoa…..whoa……

After getting reassigned from the JIC to the FCO, I was evaluated on my performance.

So yeah, that went well.

Great to support the FCO as well as the FEMA Region-1 Incident Management Team (IMAT) this week.

Trust me, without the support of countless PIOs and numerous External Affairs peeps, we could not have accomplished our tasks assigned.

My hope is that we continue to increase our knowledge and expand on ways that we can serve each of our communities daily as well as during any disaster or emergency.

We must relentlessly pursue knowledge from educators who are willing to share their craft with others.

Listen to all of our communities and share kernels of knowledge with others in an open forum so that other PIOs can learn and make good decisions.

It is incumbent upon us to coordinate the response effort for those who have nothing.

And most importantly, it is our duty to serve this great nation.

Demobing now.

Great week.

@rusnivek

Day-4 as the FCO’s Press Secretary

Posted on March 23, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-4 and my Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) wanted to brief the entire Joint Field Office (JFO).

Words of encouragement to rally the team and keep the momentum going is an important part of any situation.

Awesome. I’m just glad to be a part of the team.

No supersoakers or motorized podiums yet.

Second day of being the FCO’s Press Secretary – bring it on Thursday!

@rusnivek

Day-3: 2 PIOs inbound to Branch 2 – south side!

Posted on March 22, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-3: FEMA External Affairs PIOs (MRSP) heading out to the south side!

Nikki with 2 Ks and Kevin with 1 K.

On the docket – coordinated messaging, pressers, VIP visits, and media interviews.

Rolling 2 deep for Branch-2!

@rusnivek

1730…so it’s time to talk PIO stuff

Posted on March 2, 2017 by rusnivek

Long work day but now for some Public Information Officer (PIO) stuff.

Today’s hot topic: ongoing media relation, reporter problems, how to say no, replies that are short and blunt, and the proverbial discussion of “how can we get everyone to play nice in the sandbox!”

PIO A-Team unite!

@rusnivek

Reviewing the recap from the big 2017 PIO Conference

Posted on February 25, 2017 by rusnivek

Finally reviewing some of the recap video from the PIO Conference in January.

Erica Creech

Great time with over 100 seasoned Public Information Officers (PIOs)…

Jennifer Ciaccia

…from multiple states including from all over Ohio.

Kevin Sur

Saturday night fun stuff.

@rusnivek

Newest PIOs for Ohio & Virginia & West Virginia #PAO #ESF15

Posted on February 18, 2017 by rusnivek

Say hello to the newest PIOs from Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia!

Congrats peeps!

Now use your communications skillz for good!

(Yep, that is most definitely a “Z”)

@rusnivek

Another G0291 JIS JIC course for PIOs in Athens County #Ohio #AlohaFriday

Posted on February 17, 2017 by rusnivek

Leading off another Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) G-0291: Joint Information System / Joint Information Center Planning for Tribal, State, and Local PIOs.

We have a few new additions to our class – who hail from across Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Glad to have so many pros with us in class…esp for #AlohaFriday – yeah baby!

PC: J. Beckett

Always an Aloha shirt on Fridays.

Lots of group work and discussion as everyone contributes information to better their communities.

It is helpful because our participants have diverse backgrounds.

Almost all Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) were represented.

This allowed us to have an in-depth discussion and think outside the box to solve various in class table top exercises.

Instructors we able to facilitate discussion among groups providing the opportunity to enhance their response with immediate communication strategies and tactics for emergency notification.

Also lots of discussion of the benefits and pitfalls of the JIC vs the JIS.

Additionally, the class wanted to see a few pictures from our Joint Information Center (JIC) during the 2016 RNC (2016 Republican National Convention).

We obliged and showed a few pictures.

Glad to have the chance to present before the PIOs from Athens County and beyond.

Special thanks to Dan in coordinating this training with Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Proud to have so many different agencies represented.

Looking forward to working with each of these PIOs in a JIC!

@rusnivek

Day-2: Basic Public Information Officers Course #PIO #PAO

Posted on February 16, 2017 by rusnivek

Day-2 of FEMA / Ohio EMA Basic Public Information Officer course.

Many of our participants wanted to know what is was like to implement a media pool for an international audience so we obliged by showcasing the May 2013 landmark case of the Cleveland Survivors’ Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, Michelle Knight.

After discussing interview tips, we reviewed all media interviews. Everyone got a chance to openly review their newly acquired PIO interview skills.

PC: E. Creech

Sharp PIOs providing some sharp witty responses to the fictitious disaster.

Great discussion on redirection…

…and phrasing…

…and transitional phrasing or bridging…

…and reversing a negative…

…and of course the “no comment” conundrum.

All these in class activities help better our PIO on camera TV interviewing skills.

Meanwhile, a few participants tried to manually control the interview by holding my mic hostage.

Fun times.

Looking forward to our G291: Joint Information System / Joint Information Center class tomorrow on #AlohaFriday.

@rusnivek

Great first day of Basic Public Information Officer #PIO Course in Athens County Ohio

Posted on February 15, 2017 by rusnivek

Kicking off another solid FEMA / Ohio EMA Basic Public Information Officer’s course.

We have participants from across the state of Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia!

So Region-5 and Region-3 are well represented.

Proud to have a diverse class this week in Athens County, Ohio.

Lots of class engagement with several opening activities assessing preparedness levels as well as gaps in PIO responses.

Addressing difficult situations (aka anticipating media questions) with PIOs or agency heads before they happen is a critical skill that every PIO should master.

Deep discussion on how all-hazards PIOs could support various operations with public safety. Also dissecting how Strategic Communications play a crucial role in planning.

#StratComms4Lyfe

On camera mock media interviews in the afternoon with focus on answering questions, talking points, redirects, and of course preparedness. Great time to hone the skills of every PIO and agency head.

Show and tell on preparedness kits and PIO go readiness kits.

PC: E. Creech

Including my famous “PIO stick”

PC: J. Beckett

Looking forward to day-2!

@rusnivek